Matt Painter has already set an in-state foundation for 2019, but that's not ultimately the most important factor in any recruiting class.

Isaiah Thompson of Zionsville and Robert Phinisee of McCutcheon shakes hands after the Eagles defeated the Mavericks 60-50 the sectional championship Saturday, March 3, 2018, at Lafayette Jeff. (Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier)

INDIANAPOLIS — You can take two in-state recruiting targets off the board for Purdue basketball.

Cathedral guard Armaan Franklin committed to Indiana on Thursday night. Earlier this week, Center Grove center Trayce Jackson-Davis announced he would not take a scheduled visit to Purdue in November, trimming his list of finalists from six to five.

These were the first real hiccups in 2019 recruiting momentum for the Boilermakers, who had already locked in a faster-than-usual start with Zionsville's Isaiah Thompson and New Castle's Mason Gillis.

However, those developments did not change the narrative of a commitment class which could eventually grow to five. Matt Painter can still fit all of Purdue's positional needs for 2019—expanding the in-state foundation already in place—while also picking up priority talents outside the region.

Valparaiso's Brandon Newman made an official visit last week alongside Gillis, Thompson and Franklin. Afterwards he listed Purdue among his four finalists along with Indiana, Ohio State and Xavier.

Newman once called his Purdue offer "the one I really wanted." His list of finalists, and his recent return to Valparaiso from a Florida prep school, suggest geography will be a factor in his decision.

Fort Wayne/La Lumiere forward Keion Brooks is also on the Boilermaker list of in-state pursuits. Others remain on Purdue's radar, under evaluation for potential offers as the process unfolds.

Fans put more importance than coaches on the concept of protecting one's home turf. There are too many variables involved—positional need and fit, culture and personality, allegiances and relationships. Most coaches instead talk about recruiting the Big Ten Conference footprint, moving the concept of protecting one's own backyard to a regional perspective.

However, Painter has publicly stated the importance of a strong presence in a city such as Indianapolis which churns out so much high-level talent.

all jokes aside, I know this was a tough one for both of us but s/o to my best friend @unkle44artty on his commitment to IU!! They got one heck of a player. I’m happy for you brother. It’ll always be bigger than basketball. Love you dawg and of course my 2nd mom @indii5000 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/AgRMHl7PA3

With one exception, every Painter recruiting class since he took over as Gene Keady's heir apparent has included at least one Indiana recruit. (Carsen Edwards of Texas was the lone 2016 signee until Matt Haarms, from the Netherlands by way of Kansas, joined as a second-semester redshirt.)

Those in-state names have included two Big Ten Players of the Year and NBA first-round draft picks (Caleb Swanigan and JaJuan Johnson), E'Twan Moore, Robbie Hummel, A.J. Hammons and other professionals, and two Big Ten Defensive Players of the Year (Rapheal Davis, Chris Kramer).

Landing another in-state target—whether Newman or someone else—would push this class into another category.

To find a class with three in-state recruits you must reach back to 2012. That entire four-man group of Davis (Fort Wayne South/LaLumiere), Hammons (Gary/Carmel), Ronnie Johnson (North Central) and Jay Simpson (Champaign, Illinois/La Lumiere) came with some degree of Hoosier state connection.

Two of the three classes mentioned proved to be pivotal ones which turned Purdue back in a nationally competitive direction.

Those classes also proved, however, that the quality of the player—both in terms of talent and, more importantly, intangibles—remain more crucial than their hometown. So did the recently graduated foursome of Indianapolis native P.J. Thompson, Ohio's Vincent Edwards and Dakota Mathias and Alabama's Isaac Haas.

The same holds true for the 2019 class, which also likely won't be complete without reaching outside of the Hoosier State boundaries.

Malik Hall, of the same Sunrise Christian program in Bel Aire, Kansas, that produced Matt Haarms, has set a visit for the Sept. 14-16 weekend. Purdue has also made a strong push for two out-of-state big men: Texan Drew Timme and Minnesotan Zeke Nnaji.

Expect more scheduled visits to trickle out in coming weeks.

Some of those prospects will need a plane ticket in order to reach Mackey Arena. The foundation of this class, however, has been set within driving distance.

Nathan Baird reports on Purdue basketball for the Journal & Courier. Contact him at 765-420-5234 or nbaird@jconline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @nbairdjc